Enter the front doors and turn to right into the Cardinal Rink. The studio is then to your left once inside the Cardinal Rink. Dancers can also enter the rear door of the building near the Monona Academy of Dance sign. Proceed up the steps and the studio is immediately to your left once you leave the stairwell.

Perform

Monona Academy of Dance offers our dancers numerous opportunities to perform throughout the year in our various performance groups. Major productions are presented by Dance Wisconsin, a non-profit performance dance company affiliated with the studio under artistic director Jo Jean Retrum. Our commitment to stage experience means we work hard to include even the youngest dancers in our productions. Our studio dancers also entertain local audiences at free public events throughout the year. In addition, our Mad City dancers compete in regional competitions, where they typically excel. The year of study always concludes with a Spring Recital held at the Mitby Theater located within Madison College's Truax Campus.

Competitions:

Members of Monona Academy of Dance's competition group, MAD City Dancers, have the opportunity to compete at a number of regional competitions. Jo Jean Retrum wants the dancers to experience all areas of dance. However, the focus of our dance education is not on competition, but the fundatmentals of dance and preparation of being able to perform at the highest levels without continual repetitive running of a competition piece. Monona Academy of Dance dancer's are dancers and performers first and competitive dancers second.

Youth America Grand Prix - solosits and small groups will compete at YAGP based upon Jo Jean's selection. Soloists must be taking private lessons through Monona Academy of Dance, members of the MAD City Dancers and choreography purchased through Monona Academy of Dance. In 2014 and 2015 Monona Academy of Dancer had dancers placed in the Top 3 in Contemporary, Top 12 Contemporary, and Top 20 Classical Variations. During the past decade a number of solosits have also placed in the top 12 Contemporary and a number of small groups have earned a spot to compete at the International Finals. YAGP is the largest ballet scholarship awarding competition in the world.

New York City Dance Alliance - over the course of the last six or seven years the entire group of MAD City Dancers have participated in the Chicago Regional Competition of NYCDA. Ms. Retrum loves the philosphy of NYCDA and how it exposes her dancers to all types of dance performance. NYCDA offers multiple scholarships to regional workshops, its national finals and its summer intensives. Monona Academy of Dance has had numerous solosits in the top 15 at various age levels and its small group performances have earned multiple Platnium awards and nominations for Crictic's Choice.

Other competitions visited on an unregular basis: Showstoppers, NUVO, and Hollywood Vibe.